Vivo has expanded its budget lineup with the new Vivo Y05, an entry-level 4G smartphone that focuses on the basics people care about most: a big screen, a massive battery, and practical extras you don’t usually see at this price.
Up front, the Vivo Y05 comes with a 6.74-inch IPS display featuring a 1,600 × 720 resolution (about 260 ppi). For smoother scrolling and more responsive everyday use, it supports a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. Vivo also lists up to 1,200 nits peak brightness, which should help with visibility in brighter conditions, along with 83% NTSC color coverage.
Powering the phone is the 12 nm Unisoc T7225 chipset, using a mix of two Cortex-A75 performance cores (up to 1.8 GHz) and six Cortex-A55 efficiency cores (also up to 1.8 GHz). It’s paired with 4 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 64 GB of eMMC 5.1 storage. If you need more room for photos, videos, or apps, there’s a microSD card slot that supports expansion up to 2 TB, which is a standout perk in the ultra-budget segment.
One of the Y05’s biggest selling points is battery life. It packs a huge 6,500 mAh battery, designed for long stretches away from a charger. When it’s time to top up, it supports charging at up to 15 W. On the software side, the phone runs OriginOS 6.0 based on Android 16.
Camera hardware keeps things simple but functional. On the back, you get an 8-megapixel main camera with an f/2.0 lens. There’s also a 5-megapixel front camera for selfies and video calls. Interestingly, the second rear cutout isn’t another camera—it houses an IR blaster, letting the Vivo Y05 work as a universal remote for compatible home appliances, a feature that’s becoming rare on modern smartphones.
Vivo rounds out the Y05 with several useful quality-of-life additions, including an RGB notification light, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, IP65-rated dust and water resistance, and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for quick unlocking.
The Vivo Y05 is already launching in select markets, including Malaysia, where it’s priced at RM 399 (around $102), making it a compelling choice for anyone shopping for an affordable 4G smartphone with a high-refresh display and extra-large battery.
